Q. What are the prospects for my shares of Delhaize Group? Are things looking up at all? ML, via the InternetA. While it derives the bulk of its operating profits from the US, this Belgian supermarket operator with around 2,700 stores does not have high name recognition with investors here.Food Lion in the Mid-Atlantic states, Hannaford in New England and the newer Sweetbay concept in Florida are its food chains in this country. A profit-margin leader in an industry known for small profit margins, it has a strategy of emphasising lower prices while avoiding the relentless store promotions commonly used throughout the grocery industry to lure customers.Due to a tough US retail environment throughout recession, Delhaize’s recent announcement of its $1.3 billion acquisition of Serbian food retailer Delta Maxi Group was greeted positively. It is expected to boost profits and reduce dependence on the US market.Delhaize (DEG) shares are up seven percent this year following a decline of four percent last year. This large company has plenty of cash to cover debt and endure rough patches, as well as the capacity to buy competitors or put pressure on them through pricing.Seventy-five percent of Delhaize operating profits come from the US, 19 percent from Belgium, six percent from Greece and the remainder from the rest of the world. The company also does food wholesaling to stores in its sales network.Pierre-Olivier Beckers, whose entire career has been with the company, became CEO in 1999 and runs a decentralised company. It owns different types of grocery chains, with targeted consumers ranging from high-end to budget-oriented, and from enormous hypermarkets to smaller food stores.Delhaize shares, lightly covered by Wall Street, currently receive one “buy” and one “hold” from analysts who track them, according to Thomson Reuters.The supermarket industry, no matter what the country, faces pricing pressure from commodity and energy costs and a variety of competitors. And because Delhaize is international in scope, there are also currency and economic fluctuations it must contend with. All of which makes it one of the better-run companies in an industry where profits can never be taken for granted.Earnings are expected to increase eight percent in its current fiscal year, compared to 18 percent for the grocery store industry. Its projected five-year annual earnings growth rate is seven percent versus 15 percent forecast for its peers.